Thursday, October 11, 2012

Last December the U.N. General Assembly (UNGA) passed a resolution that established the International Day of the Girl on October 11th. For the UNGA the aim of this observance was to “help galvanize worldwide enthusiasm for goals to better girls’ lives, providing an opportunity for them to show leadership and reach their full potential.”

According to the EFE news agency 75 million girls worldwide do not receive a secondary education, 64% of all HIV/AIDS cases are in women under the age of 24 and every three seconds a girl is forced to get married. In several Latin America and the Caribbean countries the statistics are no less reassuring:

In 2009, 15.5% of Mexican girls between the age of 15 and 19 had at least one child partly as a result of 61.2% of teens who did not use birth control.

69% of the 7551 reported cases of domestic or sexual violence in Peru during the first eight months of this year involved girls under the age of 17.

A survey taken two years ago showed that 43% of women in the Dominican Republic aged between 20 and 49 had married before reaching the age of 18.

70% of Bolivian girls do not got to school while 30% of girls residing in rural areas finish elementary school.

* Honduras: A new study from a Mexican thin-tank found that the San Pedro Sula, Honduras is the most dangerous city on Earth and that forty of the world's most violent urban areas are in Latin America.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

* Caribbean: Health officials in the neighboring countries of Haiti and the Dominican Republic agreed to working on a campaign aimed at eliminating cholera by 2022.* U.S.: In the race for the White House, Mitt Romney may have closed the gap in the polls but the latest Latino Decisions tracking poll showed that President Barack Obama maintains a massive 52% lead over his Republican rival.

* Latin America: The International Monetary Fund cut its growth forecasts for Latin America and the Caribbean due to the possibility of a continued weakening global economy.

Monday, October 8, 2012

On previous Columbus Days we've wondered whether or not the date ought to be renamed for a different Italian explorer with a less checkered past than Christopher Columbus. But what about renaming the day to honor the accomplishments of all explorers in the U.S.?

Two new petitions have been launched (through Change.org and The White House) seeking to rededicate Columbus Day as Exploration Day.

"Rededicating Columbus Day as Exploration Day will allow those who wish to commemorate his accomplishments to continue doing so," said Karl Frank, one of the men behind the Exploration Day plan, to Discovery News. "But for those who find Columbus's role in history disquieting, it will enable them to celebrate the day in a very different way. Exploration Day covers the depth and breadth of America’s rich history of exploration, research and discovery. Thus, Exploration Day will be something that unites rather than divides."

Frank and his cohorts, Tom Diehl and Dr. Rod Wright, claimed that they were inspired by the efforts of recently deceased astronaut Neil Armstrong.

“Inspired by the likes of Armstrong’s generation, we are finished wondering and are ready to make it happen by rekindling that fire of exploratory spirit intrinsic in all of humanity,” noted Frank. “Like the exploratory fire found in women like Sacajawea, Hedy Lamar, Amelia Earhart, and men like Lewis and Clark, John Fremont, Matthew Henson, Charles Lindbergh, and the more contemporary Elon Musk”.

* Uruguay: “The use of the military to perform civil law enforcement cannot be a long-term solution,” declared U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta to his Latin American counterparts at a conference this morning in Punta Del Este, Uruguay.

* Mexico: No reports of casualties or major damage have resulted after a 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck in the Gulf of California off the Mexican coast in the overnight hours.

* Peru: The Shining Path rebels are believed to have been behind the burning of three helicopters owned by “international gas pipeline consortium” Transportadora de Gas del Peru.

* Cuba: Dissident blogger Yoani Sanchez and her husband were released from police custody over thirty hours after they were detained last Thursday.

"I'm celebrating with a big heart - Chavez is the hope of the people and of Latin America," said Chavez supporter Mary Reina to BBC News.

The reactions of proponents of Capriles in Miami included disappointment and anger according to ElNuevoHerald.com.

"We're denouncing an electoral fraud," proclaimed one upset expat while a community activist congratulated those who showed their "commitment to democracy" by voting in New Orleans.

According to The Guardian, Chavez may have to make some changes in order to gain support among the millions who backed Capriles:

(...) analysts say his reduced margin of victory - down from 26% in 2006 and
16% in 1998 may prompt changes in the cabinet and the government's
policy, particularly with regard to public security and the economy.
Health concerns are also likely to linger.

Update (11:30 PM): Defeated candidate Henrique Capriles thanked the over six million voters who chose him and "who probably are feeling very sad now" but should also be "very proud" for their efforts.

"We have planted many seeds all over Venezuela. My dreams are the same dreams as millions of Venezuelans," said Capriles who will respect the electoral results.

Capriles congratulated President Hugo Chavez for his victory yet warned Chavez that he needs to do more to improve Venezuela. "I hope that a project that has taken fourteen years understands that nearly half of the country disagrees with the government," said Capriles.

Chavez, meanwhile, has taken to Twitter in response to his electoral win. "My God thanks! Thanks to everyone!!" he said.